Connect With Your U.S. Community | Fulbright Scholar Program

Non-U.S. Scholars

Each year roughly 850 faculty and professionals from around the world receive Fulbright Scholar awards for advanced research and university lecturing in the United States. Individual awards are available to scholars from over 100 countries.

Non-U.S. Scholars

U.S. Institutions

U.S. Higher Education institutions are instrumental to the success of the Fulbright mission. They are key allies in advancing the goal of sharing knowledge across communities, promoting mutual understanding across nations and improving lives around the world.

U.S. Institutions

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Much of this section is based on the feedback and advice provided by previous Fulbrighters, who encourage you to take the initiative to connect and share your experience with the U.S. community. Actively reach out to people, achieve the balance between communicating with your own culture and with U.S. culture, and remember that Fulbright goals go beyond academics and to building mutual understanding.

Volunteering and Community Service

Defining Volunteerism and Community Service: To volunteer is to offer to do something without being forced to or without getting paid to do it (Meriam-Webster Dictionary). In the field of social welfare, community service usually refers to voluntary work that is intended for the common good (The Free Dictionary)

Learn from the experiences of previous Fulbrighters: About half of Fulbrighters in 2015 reported that they had volunteered or participated in community services in the United States. These Fulbrighters committed an average of 59 hours to volunteer activities or community service. According to them, volunteerism is an effective way to expand one’s network and meet people with similar values and ideals.

Volunteerism as a U.S. core value: A 2013 Gallup poll concluded that 65% of Americans reported having volunteered their time to a charitable cause in the past year (“Most Americans Practice Charitable Giving” 2013).

How to Find Community Service Opportunities

Volunteer matching websites:

These websites allow organizations to post volunteer opportunities. You can narrow down your results by selecting your city, areas of focus/what you are passionate about, dates you are available, etc.
Do thorough research about the organization that posts the opportunity and make sure that the mission of the organization aligns with your personal values.
A few examples of volunteer matching websites include:
- https://www.idealist.org
- https://www.volunteermatch.org/
- https://www.allforgood.org/
- Your university’s website:
  - Your university’s international students and scholars website may offer advice on looking for local volunteer opportunities. Many campuses also have service learning offices that can connect you to the community.
- Do research about local organizations that fit into your areas of interest (education, faith-based, environment, hunger and homelessness, immigrants and refugees, etc.), and then read their websites to see if they need volunteers.
- Always reach out to people if you need help finding volunteer or community service opportunities. Your colleagues and your international student advisor may know more about the local community!

Volunteering vs. Paid Employment

To volunteer, the position must be a legitimate, advertised volunteer position, and you cannot receive any compensation. Remember that paid positions cannot be categorized as volunteering and are subject to J-1 and Fulbright regulations on employment.